“Well, I can send you a prescription for pain killers, but the best thing is to keep him on the ibuprofen and let him sleep it off. If he’s as bruised as you said, the fever is normal, as long as it’s kept within limits.”
Deva bit her lip. It wasn’t exactly what she needed to hear. Not if Aleksei had to be standing on his own two feet and in fighting mode in a matter of days.
“And what if he had another fight? Like soon. And he couldn’t back out of it, what would you prescribe?”
The silence on the line was telling. Her cousin knew exactly what she was requesting because they had faced the same situation ten years ago.
“Deva, is your friend involved in underground fighting? Please answer with a no.”
Another silence and Sasha cursed on the line. “Cousin, I don’t know what you’re up to, but the last time we had this conversation... let’s say I don’t want you to be involved in that stuff anymore. Ever again for that matter.”
Deva’s heart tightened in her chest, but she pushed the memory aside. “I know Sasha. But I have to do something. It’s complicated, and I promise to tell you everything, but not on the phone. Not now. Please help me. I have enough on my plate without reaching out to other people who might tell my father I’m in Chicago.”
“Chicago? You are in Chicago? Are you insane?”
“I told you, it’s complicated. Please, please, Sasha.”
Another string of curses in English and French, but Deva knew then that her cousin and closest friend wouldn’t deny her.
“How long before the fight?”
“Three days.”
“Well, you have your job cut out for you. Check your emails. I’m gonna send you a list of drugs and instructions. Follow everything to the dot. Don’t go to the same drugstore for everything. I’ll give you three different places that you can get what you need. None of their computer networks are linked yet. It should give you time. Because if they ever see the final dosage, I might lose my license.”
“I owe you, Sasha.”
“Ma belle, you owe me big, with explanations first chance I see you. Keep me apprised of the situation. I’ll plan a flight to Chicago as soon as I can. Either to help you with that dickhead of a fighter again, whoever he is, or to take care of a corpse after he steps into that cage again.”
